Boot of the type comprising a bootleg lined with expanded material

ABSTRACT

An after-ski boot of the type comprising a bootleg and a lining of expanded thermoinsulating material. The boot comprises a hull type sole, of a material unalterable at low temperatures, comprising a base and a flange adapted to be joined to an upper. Integral with the sole, there are provided a part projecting from the base, with a non-slip surface which extends on to the heel and to the toe.

United. States Patent 1191 Vello 1451 Sept. 10, 1974 BOOT OF THE TYPECOMPRISING A BOOTLEG LINED WITH EXPANDED MATERIAL [76] Inventor:Francesco Vello, Venegazzu, Volpago Del Montello, Italy [22] Filed: Mar.5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,012

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 10, 1972 Italy" ..4l538/72[52] US. Cl 12/142 E [51] Int. Cl A43d 9/00 [58] Field of Search 12/142R, 142 E, 142 RS,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 989,089 4/1911 Warner12/142 15 I 12/1944 Olson 12/142 E 12/1968 Novitske 12/142 E PrimaryExaminer-Patrick D. Lawson I Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Guido Modiano [5 7ABSTRACT An after-ski boot of the type comprising a bootleg and a liningof expanded thermoinsulating material. The boot comprises a hull typesole, of a material unalterable at low temperatures, comprising a baseand a flange adapted to be joined to an upper. Integral with the sole,there are provided a part projecting from the base, with a non-slipsurface which extends on to the heel and to the toe.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BOOT OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A BOOTLEG LINEDWITH EXPANDED MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to rest or after-ski boots of the type comprising a bootleglined with expanded or cellular thermally insulating material.

Boots of this type have a normal sole of plastic material, generallyobtained by moulding. These known plastics soles create problems inassembling the upper, have low stability when fixed to boots with alined boot leg, and become slippery at low temperatures and are hencedangerous to those using them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to obviate theaforementioned disadvantages by providing a boot with a lined leg, ofsimple and economical construction, while being perfectly impermeableand thermoinsulating, and giving excellent support adherence at anytemperature and maximum stability for the person using it,

The boot according to this invention is characterised by a hull typesole of rubber or like material unalterable at low temperaures,comprising a flange extending upwards with an upper edge for fixing tothe upper, and a part projecting from the base in the form of a non-slipsurface which extends on to the heel and possibly on to the toe.

This hull type sole facilitates connection to the upper because of thepresence of the lateral flange, and ensures excellent stability and goodsupport on the ground, on the control pedals of motor vehicles and onany surface even at low temperatures. The projecting part also prolongsthe duration of the boot by reinforcing the zones of maximum wear, andthe flanges, which is seal stitched at a certain height, ensures thatthere is no infiltration when walking on snow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantagesof the invention will be evident from the description which follows,with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided by way ofnon-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention with the partsseparated;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the hull sole shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a section through the finished boot obtained from thecomponent parts of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a hull type sole according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The boot shown comprises asymmetrical hull type sole 1, characteristic of the present invention,an insole 2, an upper 3 with a bootleg and a lining 4 of expandedthermoinsulating material. The hull type sole 1 is obtained by mouldingor by another method and is of rubber or another material unalterable atlow temperatures. The sole 1 comprises an edge flange 5 extending with athickness which decreases upwards, because of which its upper edge 6 isvery thin and it is at this upper thin edge 6 that the sole 1 is sewn tothe upper 3, as shown by the dotted lines 7 and 8 respectively. The sole1 comprises an integral part 9 projecting from the bottom, with anon-slip surface, shaped so that it extends on to the heel and toe. Thisprojecting part 9 may be of the same composition as the rest of the sole1 or may have a different composition and be obtained in a first stageof the same moulding operation, as known in the art. The projecting part9 has the object of stiffening and strengthening the sole and comprisesa narrow zone 9a which enables the sole to maintain the requiredflexibility. The non-slip surface of the projecting part 9 may be rough,may comprise appendices, knurling, pointed projections, producingsuction effect etc. well known to experts of this branch of the art. Thebase of the sole 1 may have a thickness which increases towards theheel, with a lightening cavity open upwards, on which the insole 2 isplaced. The insole 2 is of a soft material in order to give comfortablesupport to the person wearing the boot. The insole 2 may also have athickness which increases towards the heel. The upper 3 is of a flexibleimpermeable material and may be provided with any known system of lacingor closure. The lining 4 is formed from expanded or cellular thermallyinsulating material, and consists of a leg piece 4a and base 4b, withthe heel strengthened by an element 10 covering the sides and bottom soas to avoid enlargement and deformation of the lining during use.

The sole 1 may be produced from rubber or other coloured material andthe sole and projecting part may be of different colours, while beingintegral with each other.

The boot is produced by firstly inserting the insole 2 into the hulltype sole 1, and then inserting the base of the upper 3 into the sole 1and sewing the sole 1 and upper 3 along the lines 7 and 8 shown oneabove the other, i.e. at a certain height from the support plane on theground. Finally the lining 4, which is removable, is inserted. Thelining 4 may be provided with a covering and its top part may projectfrom the upper 3 and be provided with an ornamental element.

The sole 1 shown in FIG. 4 has the same characteristics as the soleconsidered above, and differs from it only in that its heel extendsfurther upwards.

Preferably the boot according to the present invention is of anambidextrous type, i.e. the same boot can be mounted independently oneither the right or left foot, as this considerably simplifies theproduction and machinery necessary for moulding. It is however evidentthat the present invention may also be adopted for the production ofpairs of boots, one for each foot.

It should also be noted that by using a lacing system comprising hooks(not shown) provided on the flange 5 of the sole 1, the boot may be usedby people who wear different sizes, for example a single type of bootmay be used by people who wear shoes of sizes from 37 to 39, whilecompletely satisfying comfort and stability requirements.

The projecting part 9 of the sole 1 considerably increases itsdurability as it is provided in the zones of maximum wear and alsoensures good support both on the ground and on the control pedals ofmotor vehicles. The narrow portion 9a of the projecting part 9 ensuresgood flexibility of the sole 1.

Naturally, within the principle of the invention, the constructionaldetails and embodiments may be widely modified with respect to thatdescribed and illustrated, without leaving the scope of the presentinvention.

I claim 1. A process for the production of a rest or after-ski boot, ofthe type comprising a boot leg with a lining of expandedthermoinsulating material, having a single piece hull type sole ofrubber like material including a flange projecting upwards with a topedge joined to an upper of flexible impermeable material and a shapedpart projecting from its base with a non slip surface, which extends onto the flange at the heel and possibly at the toe the processcomprising, moulding the hull type sole from natural rubber basedmaterial or the like, unalterable over a large temperature range;applying on the inside of the sole an insole of soft material; insertingthe base of the upper of flexible impermeable material into the hulltype sole, and joining the upper edge of the flange of the sole to theunderlying upper in a sealed manner by normal sewing; and inserting alining of thermoinsulating expanded material' 2. A process as claimed inclaim 1, characterised in that the moulding of the sole is carried outin two stages: a first stage of moulding the portion comprising theprojecting part of a predetermined composition and colour, and a secondstage of moulding the remaining part of the sole, i.e. the base andflange, also of a predetermined composition and colour, to form anintegral sole, of one or two colours, and preferably with the edge madethin.

1. A process for the production of a rest or after-ski boot, of the typecomprising a boot leg with a lining of expanded thermoinsulatingmaterial, having a single piece hull type sole of rubber like materialincluding a flange projecting upwards with a top edge joined to an upperof flexible impermeable material and a shaped part projecting from itsbase with a non slip surface, which extends on to the flange at the heeland possibly at the toe the process comprising, moulding the hull typesole from natural rubber based material or the like, unalterable over alarge temperature range; applying on the inside of the sole an insole ofsoft material; inserting the base of the upper of flexible imperMeablematerial into the hull type sole, and joining the upper edge of theflange of the sole to the underlying upper in a sealed manner by normalsewing; and inserting a lining of thermoinsulating expanded material. 2.A process as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the moulding ofthe sole is carried out in two stages: a first stage of moulding theportion comprising the projecting part of a predetermined compositionand colour, and a second stage of moulding the remaining part of thesole, i.e. the base and flange, also of a predetermined composition andcolour, to form an integral sole, of one or two colours, and preferablywith the edge made thin.